Head of Software Engineering (Hands on at a startup)

Head of Software Engineering (Start up: hands-on role) About the job We're a fast-moving, VC-backed startup in stealth, pioneering the future of retail with cutting-edge AI. Leveraging reinforcement learning, generative AI, and advanced recommendation systems, we're building a platform that will redefine the customer experience. We're seeking a hands-on Head of Software Engineering with backend expertise to join our team and help us bring this vision to life. We embrace a "best idea wins" mentality, operate with zero legacy technical debt, and are passionate about using the latest technologies. The Head of Software Engineering will focus on the following: Architect and Build: Design and develop highly scalable, reliable, secure and performant web applications, demonstrating expertise in both backend and frontend technologies. Drive Innovation: Translate cutting-edge machine learning research into impactful products and solutions, leading the development process from concept to production. Essentials: Backend Expertise in at least one backend language and framework such as TypeScript & Node.js, Python & FastAPI, Java & Spring Boot Experience with modular API-first development Authentication (OAuth, SSO, JWT) Database design and optimization (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, DynamoDB) Working with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP and/or Azure Frontend Strong expertise in React.js and Typescript (JavaScript) Bonus points for: Microservices architecture Real-time application development (WebSocket’s, Firebase) DevOps experience Knowledge of RESTful and/or GraphQL APIs